I really enjoyed making this bag. The photo doesn't do it justice. The fringe and strap are beaded in jade and the beads of the bag itself are glass peach and cream colored beads. The texture is soft, gentle and is comfortable to wear. The design is my own and it took me a long time to make this bag. Depending on my health some pieces would take weeks if not months. I just kept on going, always moving forward. Never giving up.
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Lovely Crystal took me three years to complete. I had never beaded a doll with solid beads and tried to use different beads and designs to give it varied textures. I hand stitched the doll which took me a while and decided to do a crystal and glass beaded fringed to give it flare and a magical appeal. I really love this little doll and would never part with her. Down on the lower right corner is a little bronze Goddess symbol and in the middle of her heart is a blue leaf which means to me awakening and compassion. The Goddess doll is made from soft cotton with a lovely pattern which I used as a guide for the beading. Lovely Crystal Goddess Doll is filled with cotton balls as I did not know anything about fiber fill at the time. A true beginning on a path down a new adventure of dolls that would change my life forever. I made Magical Secrets around Halloween 15 years ago. It is my own design and made in a tubular peyote stitch. It's the first bag I have done with a thick beaded strap. The strap took longer than the bag. The closing flap is made of bronze metal beads and has a small piece of tiger's eye for the clasp. Around the time I was working on the bag I found an Indian Head nickel and placed in it for a treasure. Amulet bags can hold whatever one wishes. Crystals, money, magical gifts that mean a lot for the one who wears the amulet bag. My dear friend Theresa was in the Peace Corp many years ago. She bought back this fabric and used it for many different things before giving the fabric to me as a gift a short time ago. This doll is one of my first dolls I ever made. I love the way the fish became the front of her little out fit. A story comes with each doll I create. A fine way to express myself in story telli Little Sleeping Precious Doll is a little over 5" tall. I used a broken bracelet I had to wrap her little garment and use as her head adornment. She's wearing a little money charm on her belt and wrapped in different yarns to give texture to the other embellishments. The term spirit and goddess dolls have different and unique interpretations for each individual. I usually use the term spirit dolls when I make the smaller ones. There are infinite possibilities in creating these dolls. Doll making alleviates stress, brings about a healing of difficult situations one may find in their lives and also improves eye hand coordination and manual dexterity. Anyone can make these dolls. A wonderful way to show individuality of the human spirit. Many Primitive dolls at the turn of the 19th century were made with burlap. I like these rustic looking dolls because they remind me of the homesteads, farming, hard work and family life. I put a silver button on her chest and waist for the shimmer and added crystals to her arms for something unique and a smooth contrast to the rough burlap. Sewing Rionna was a challenge because I had to twice around the doll so it would hold and stay secure. Raggedy is such a sweet little doll. I took old lace curtains and stained them with the aging mixture of instant coffee, water and a bit of vanilla. I stuffed her with an old brown sock and stitched on the outside around the edges. On the center of her chest is an old earring I beaded years ago. It is from a Huichol Indian lace pattern. For her little skirt I used old silk brocaded fabric which I turned inside, out. I wanted this little doll to have her own flare. I decided to use a loose yarn so the hair would look fluffy and whimsical. Raggedy Prim was an all day project and well worth the effort. Lapis is the color of the throat chakra; blue. There are different shades of blue in lapis. I love the denim blue color which is light and airy. These necklaces are darker colored lapis with crystal points on one necklace and amber and glass beads on the other. Crystal is a cleansing stone and amber is for feeling grounded and strong. Lapis aides in speaking one's truth fully with out fear of reprisal. For some stringing necklaces is easy and runs smoothly. For me it takes a long time and although a good form of therapy I have to really stay focused and pay attention so one half of the necklace will line up with the other giving it a balanced look. There is also a style of necklace giving the entire piece an asymmetrical look. These lapis stones are chipped, many pieces are needed to complete a necklace. In the Best Little Beading Book Ever by Wendy Simpson Conner she describes the standard necklace lengths as a Chocker 15" in length(depending of individuals neck size), Princess is 18", Matinee-20 to 24", Opera-28 to 30" and the Lariat or Rope-45" or longer. I designed both necklaces and wear with casual or a dressed up attire. Autumn, my favorite time of year. Autumn Favor was made on an early Fall morning around 7am. Soft mist encompassed every plant and the fields sparkled crystal dust as the sun struck each blade of grass. The backing on Autumn is driftwood. Driftwood is strong and unyielding. I love the feel of the soft texture of the wood and the tiny sand embedded in the woods crevices. I cut the little head dress from extra fabric I used for the entire garment. The dolls gorgeous face makes this entire piece. The face reminds me of a beautiful sun's beaming and ever present beauty. Linda of Linsart on Etsy makes some of the most beautiful faces I have ever seen. I always try and make my dolls bring out all the colors and different textures of Linda's faces. Of The Gold Ones Spirit Doll has particular sentimental memories for me. I strung my Grandma's pearls around the front of the doll. My Grandma was my best friend in life. She was always there to pick me up when I was low, troubled and discouraged. One of my fondest memories of Grandma was the time I asked her to teach me to make an apple pie. I am not the best cook or baker in the world and she was almost blind at the time. Did we ever have fun. There was flour from one end of the kitchen to the other and she and I were covered in it from head to toe. Gales of laughter filled the house and it was one of my most pleasant memories ever. I love you Grandma and know you are always looking out for me. You will be in my heart forever. Beautiful Face Made by Linsart on Etsy. |
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